Ahmad Maslan puzzled why Parliament still closed if Ramadan bazaars allowed

 

Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan is puzzled why the government has yet to call for Parliament to reconvene.

This is after Ramadan bazaars joined schools, pasar malam and other economic sectors that the public can now access again amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

"If these (sector) can re-open, it is not wrong to ask why Parliament hasn't been re-opened," the Pontian MP tweeted today.

De facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan has said that the sitting of Parliament was being delayed until after the emergency ends on Aug 1 so that the government could focus on the Covid-19 pandemic.

Takiyuddin also argued that 100 MPs were in the high-risk Covid-19 group due to their age.

Ahmad, however, said the age of MPs was not a good excuse to keep Parliament closed.

"There are 100 MPs aged above 60, but there are 120 MPs who are younger than 60. The quorum for the Dewan Rakyat to convene is just 26 MPs so it is best to open (Parliament)," he said.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong said Parliament can convene during the current emergency but he would not call for a sitting unless advised to do so by the prime minister.

Critics claim that the Perikatan Nasional government does not have a majority in Parliament despite securing three defections from PKR.

This is seen with Umno MPs such as Ahmad Maslan and others who are not in the cabinet becoming more vocal in their criticisms of the government. - Mkini